"Poor clinical skills"

Attended UCC following a fall on ice during work. I fell on outstretched hand on the left and landed on my hip and lower back. I was seen by a nurse practitioner who was not friendly nor cheerful. History was taken and I expressed my concern that there might be a hairline fracture. They looked at my left arm and whilst it was on the table, they kind of leaned back a bit as if they were presenting a cadaveroc specimen and went on to say “Based on what i see, there is no swelling, no blood, no obvious deformity.” I told them that I agree, there is no obvious dinner fork deformity on my wrist but I am worried about what is not obvious which is a hairline fracture. They went to palpate and asked me to rate the pain and make a fist. They asked me if I had pain killers I said no because I don’t have them with me. They told me off for not carrying pain killers and went on to say that they always do. They do not have the right to tell me off because today of all days I did not carry my pouch with ibuprofen and paracetamol. They do not know that I suffer from frequent headaches and migraine and TMJ. They did not even ask me which hand is dominant. I offered that information to them. They did not even ask me what I do for a living or leisure or things that will be affected.

They offered if I want a prescription for anything. What is that? A consolation prize?! I do not ask for special treatment but if your patient is a fellow healthcare professional, you will at least be courteous or nice. I feel sorry for their other patients. Oh they do not even know how to verbally instruct in laymans terms the movement they wanted me to do with my wrist. I wanted to tell them that the movement in clinical terms is “deviation.” I do not feel satisfied with their assessment skills. They did not listen to my concern. Yes, as per their assessment I do not need an x-ray but did they listen to my concern of hairline fracture? No, they did not!! So much for client centered approach, huh! They are supposed to ease our mind but they did not deliver that. I left reduced to tears in the car.

They are a shame to the nursing profession. They are a shame to the Trust and NHS. They need to retrain to improve their clinical and professional skills.